The latest three painted fiberglass geese, which landed on Friday, are certainly no exception. Jennifer Hartzler painted “Harris Salk,” the Rotary Club of Lewistown’s addition to the flock which can be found at the Five Points intersection on Market Street in Lewistown.

“Derry,” painted by Steve Torok and sponsored by a number of local citizens, is nested at the Derry Township Municipal Office, 73 Reserve Lane in Lewistown.

“Gathering Goose” is covered with art from Karl Leitzel depicting the bird landing outside her sponsor’s Valley View Retirement Community at the corner of Center Drive and Main Street in Belleville.

“Friday’s landing brings the flock total to 51 installations across the Juniata Valley,” explained Sam Price, executive director of Community Partnerships RC&D. “The project, which first took flight in 2019, works with sponsors to highlight local artists and the area’s hundreds-year-old Goose Day tradition.”

Submitted photo
‘Derry,’ painted by Steve Torok, is nested at the Derry Township Municipal Office in Lewistown.

The Rotary Club’s goose highlights the connection between American virologist Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine, and Rotary’s global efforts to eradicate the disease. “Town Goose,” painted by Jessica Miller and sponsored by the Buffington family, was installed in 2020 and has migrated from its previous spot at Five Points intersection to its new home in front of One Stop Communications, located at 101 E. Market St. in Lewistown.

“Derry” features a number of local landmarks with a patriotic flair.

While the goose at Valley View is situated in a spot that includes a new bench, dedicated to one of Valley View’s longest-residing residents, Wilbur Ulsh, who passed away last year at age 98.

“‘Gathering Goose’ has two meanings: It honors Valley View as a place where residents, team members and families gather; and it “hopes that the goose location at the corner of Center Drive and Main Street in Belleville will become a place where people gather to enjoy the beautiful sights of Big Valley,” according to Cara Aungst, director of marketing at Valley View.

“Some of the project’s regular and crucial partners assisted with this landing,” Price added.

Submitted photo
‘Gathering Goose’ is covered with art from Karl Leitzel depicting the bird landing outside of Valley View Retirement Community in Belleville, where it is located.

A volunteer Penn State Construction crew provided base installations, while the geese received their protective sealant from Auto Collision Repair Instructor Jon Aumiller and his students at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology. along with the sealant services from J.B. Eby, of B & H Restoration in Belleville, provided sealant services.

“This project, which recognizes our region’s Goose Day tradition, would not be possible without the generous support of the sponsors and partners, talented local artists and many other individuals,” Price explained.

For more information regarding the Wild Geese Flock Together public art project visit www.cpartnerships.com.